Filipino United Methodist Students Join in Gay Pride March

Lauren Rides a Float

MANILA, Philippines – Lauren Francesca Tapia Raquel (center holding rainbow flag), a member of Central United Methodist Church, rides a float with other students to support the LGBTQIA+ people during the Pride Parade. (Photo Courtesy of Lauren Francesca Tapia Raquel)

United Methodist youths and seminarians joined thousands in the 2018 Metro Manila Pride March last June 30 at the Marikina Sports Center in Marikina City with the theme “Rise Up Together.”

The yearly event is held to empower the local LGBTQIA+ community and create a safe space for its members. LGBTQIA+ means Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual as well as myriad other communities under its umbrella. The gathering invitation states, "This is the time to come together and celebrate God’s gift of sexuality, and together, rise against creeping tyranny and attack on church people, and to continue to protect, uphold the very image of God in all."

Vannessa Jane Dabay, district president of the United Methodist Youth in South-East District of Quezon City Philippines East and a member of John Mark United Methodist Church, said,

Vannessa Dabay

MANILA, Philippines – Vannessa Jane Dabay (right) marches in support of LGBTQIA+ people during the Pride Parade in late June. Ms. Dabay serves as district president of the United Methodist Youth in South-East District of Quezon City Philippines East Conference and is a member of John Mark United Methodist Church. (Photo Courtesy of Rolando Canda Jr.)

"I joined the pride march so that I may see how colorful diversity is. Colorful in a way that people with different sexual orientation, gender identity or preference, and expression, joined together to march for everyone’s rights and also to show that God loves them just like how God loves me."

Dabay emphasized that she wanted others know that there are Christian groups which support them rather than judge them.

"And also I want to open the eyes of my dear friends, church mates, and to the community where I am, that we are all human, that we are all created by God and that God loves us abundantly," she added.

Dabay said that safe space should be given to the marginalized sectors like women and the LGBTQIA+ community where they may gather together without being judged and discriminated against. "I strongly agree that this kind of space must be given to everyone. Everyone must have the right to express themselves without being judged by others," she said.

Dabay quoted Matthew 7:2, “For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”

She said, "As a Christian, it must be us who must start this kind of space in our church."

'Apology for Persecutions'

Rolando M. Canda Jr., a young adult from St. Mark United Methodist Church in Sampaloc Manila, shared why he joined the march: "It resembles our sincere apology to all the persecutions and harm the church has done to the LGBTQIA+ persons."

Rolando Canda Jr.

MANILA, Philippines – Rolando Canda Jr. shows his support for LGBTQIA+ people next to a counter-protester at the Pride Parade in late June. (Photo Courtesy of Rolando Canda Jr.)

Canda said that joining the march is raising the issues of those who are in margins especially the LGBTQIA+ "who are victims of the drug war, the Oplan Tokhang & Oplan Galugad, TRAIN law and other oppressive policies of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte."

Oplan Tokhang involves visiting drug traffickers at their homes to persuade them to stop their illegal activities and surrender themselves to take part in government-run recovery programs. The campaign was suspended in 2017 amid public outcry over extrajudicial killings but was relaunched in early 2018 with a new set of guidelines for police. TRAIN is Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion. It is the first package of the comprehensive tax reform program (CTRP) envisioned by President Duterte’s administration.

Canda emphasized that providing safe space is stoping the harm against the LGBTQIA+ and upholding the The One Church Plan,

"The bishops’ proposal is the best way forward that keeps the church united, focused on mission and eliminate the harmful language in the Book of Discipline," he said. "It is not perfect, but I think it will take us to another level of seeking full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ community."

Canda gave a challenge to United Methodist leaders to provide safe space for open and honest conversation about the struggles of LGBTQIA+ in the church. He said that human rights are LGBTQIA+ rights.

"No one deserves to be harassed or discriminated, or harmed for who they are and who they love," said Canda. "After all we are just following Christ's mandate - love our neighbors as we love ourselves."

UMC as Sanctuary

Lauren Francesca Tapia Raquel from Central United Methodist Church recalled that when she was a child, she associated the word "sanctuary" with the church,

United Students

MANILA, Philippines – Students from United Methodist-related Union Theological Seminary during the Pride Parade in late June. (Photo Courtesy of Rolando Canda Jr.)

"Thanks to the Hunchback of Notre Dame film, I think that should be the purpose of a church, a place where one can feel vulnerable yet completely safe, and more so, a place where one feels loved and accepted for everything one is," she said.

Raquel said that the United Methodist Church could and should provide a sanctuary to the LGTBQIA+ by transforming its message from indifference and rejection to acceptance and empowerment.

"We have to make safe spaces," she said. "The United Methodist Church should begin by changing our message from indifference and rejection to acceptance and empowerment.

"Our LGBTQI+ community faces discrimination on a daily basis. Why not be the church that tells them, 'You are loved, You are perfect as you are, and Your love and relationships are as important and significant as every other ones out there'"?

Raquel also hopes the UMC will become a sanctuary for the LGBTQIA+ people.

"I’d like to bring my friends to our church, have them hear that they can be the wonderful human beings they are there and be safe, loved and rejoiced, because the same God that loves me unconditionally loves them, too," she said.